Happy Monday! Win a Wii and Wii Fit Plus

A winner has been picked -- see below!

I hate Mondays. Who's with me? Well, here's something that might help you pull the day out of the toilet -- the chance to win an awesome prize! Remember I told you about my fabulous Wii Fit™ Plus yoga party hosted by Nintendo? And remember I told you I’d be giving away a Wii™ system and a copy of the Wii Fit Plus video game? Well, seeing as I only lie about things like my weight, and my age and how many cups of coffee I’ve really had, here’s the giveaway.

Nintendo has given me a Wii system and a copy of Wii Fit Plus and I’m going to give them away to a lucky reader who wants start enjoying the benefits of working out right in their living room. That’s right - work on your abs without having to drive cross-town to the gym, or fit in a calming yoga session without having to fight for a parking space at the local yoga studio. That means more time to hang with your family, or play with your cat, or –– pick lint out of your navel – I don’t judge.

Just leave me a comment where you answer the question, “How would YOU fit some fit in with Wii Fit Plus from Nintendo?” Just do it before 11:59pm PST on May 16 2010. To keep things fair and totally random, I’ll use random.org to pick one lucky winner. Winner will be notified by email within one week and the prize will be sent out within two weeks.



A few rules!

1) I only ask that you give me a real answer – no smartass lines like, “When my wife’s not looking,” or I’ll be forced to disqualify you and your cat.
2) One entry per person.
3) No anonymous comments.
4) Entries from U.S. residents only.
5) Employees of Nintendo and my family members are ineligible to enter (sorry mom.)
6) Entrants must be 18 years or older.

So hopefully your Monday just got a little better. Carpe Diem! Seize the day! And the Wii if you're lucky.

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And the winner is:

Megryansmom of Look It's Megryansmom. Congratulations! (Is she really THE Meg Ryan's mom? I have no idea, but she is the proud owner of a brand new Wii and Wii Fit Plus!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

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eatwell: Fresh & Easy's New Line of Healthy Meals Inspires My Terrible Taglines

I love parties. Also? I love food. Apparently Fresh & Easy is aware of this because a couple of weeks ago they invited me out to their headquarters for a tasting party for their new line of healthy entrees, eatwell. I along with a bunch of other bloggers were treated to an incredible meal consisting of dishes from their new line, and I'm here to tell you that along with tasting good, they're good for you.

So not only can you eatwell, you can feelwell, too. Fresh & Easy, there's your new tagline, and yes you can pay me in hummus.

I don't have any problem finding many items at Fresh & Easy in the 'healthy' range, so I wasn't necessarily thinking they needed a line of healthy foods, but the eatwell line is great for those on restricted diets, wanting to lose weight or just wanting to lighten up their diet a bit. The items are all low in calories, sodium and are all clearly labeled with their nutritional information on the front of the package. Best of all, they're fresh, not frozen -- so much more appetizing than reaching for that smashed cardboard box in your freezer that's wedged in between the ice cubes and the frozen peas. Also, with prices ranging from $1.99 to $4.99, they're an economic way to eat healthy. Cheap & Easy! There's another tagline for you, Fresh & Easy. Oh wait, on second thought that has a whole other connotation - I won't bill you for this one just yet.

That night we were treated to a variety of foods ranging from Teriyaki Salmon to Spicy Tuna Sushi to a Veggie Hummus wrap (my favorite), and I don't think there was anything that I had that I wouldn't readily buy and serve to my family. Also, I like the idea of being able to buy healthy, reasonably-priced, fresh entrees for my vegetarian teenager on those nights where the rest of the family is having a meat dish. (The items come fresh, but can be frozen, too.) I think she'd be much happier having their Singapore Noodles or Tuscan Vegetable Soup than a packet of macaroni and cheese, and the rest of us carnivores don't have to feel guilty about digging into our steaks. Well, I should say more guilty.

Check out this spread -- the presentation was beautiful. I asked the Fresh & Easy employees if they always ate like this and they just laughed and said of course not, they always got to eat off the good china.

The items are meals in themselves (for instance, the Teriyaki Salmon is served on a bed of brown rice with broccoli and bell peppers) so they're great for keeping on hand for lunches on the go, too. Wouldn't you rather take Creamy Basil Chicken over pasta to work than one of those pre-packaged sandwiches from the vending machine? How long have those sandwiches been in there, anyhow? Why don't we actually ever see anyone filling that thing up? Are there zombies involved?

Wait, I feel another tagline coming on: eatwell, Now With 50% Less Zombies. Okay, that one might need a little work.

After our great meal, we were treated to a tour of the Fresh & Easy offices and test kitchens. Further proof of the healthy nature of the eatwell line -- usually I can't move after I've eaten, let alone get up and walk around and take some pictures. And as I've said it before -- I want to work for this company. Not only are you surrounded by food all day, but you can park your rad bicycle in the hallway:



The eatwell line is available now at all Fresh & Easy stores. Taglines not included.

Important Disclosure-ish Jibberish I was not given any monetary compensation for attending this event or writing about Fresh & Easy's eatwell products, nor was I required to write a review. I've already talked about my love for Fresh & Easy here on this blog, so really it wasn't like they had to twist my arm to come out and sample some of their food. You can come over anytime and see my refrigerator stocked with Fresh & Easy products. Wait - did I just invite a bunch of strangers to my house to poke around my kitchen? On second thought, don't come over just take my word for it. We did receive a very nice gift bag at the end of the evening containing a bottle of wine and a gift card. But I repeat -- do not come over to my house.

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tags: fresh & easy eatwell | fresh & easy market

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Bosch Tassimo: The Coffee Maker That Inspired a Movie

I love getting products to review, but my favorite has got to be coffee makers. I've gotten a few, and it's safe to say I don't think I've ever met a coffee maker I didn't like. There's something instantly appealing about a machine that dispenses my favorite beverage at the touch of a button, and without smacking its gum or glaring at me when I ask for extra foam.

A few weeks ago I was sent the Bosch Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer. And while every machine I've reviewed has its strength and weaknesses, the Bosch was the only coffee maker that inspired a movie.

The Bosch works on the popular 'pod' coffee system, but one of the unique things about it is that you can use milk pods and the machine will produce frothy steamed milk. And you know what that means -- kids can make their own hot cocoa! I don't know about you, but to me this is an amazing thing! A revelation! I don't think I've been this happy about a child milestone since my youngest learned how to trim her own toenails.

And speaking of my youngest, that would be my 11-year-old Kiyomi. She was so moved by the Bosch that she made a movie showing how easy it is to make a cup of hot cocoa. I am in awe of her mad iMovie skillz -- with that and the fact that she can make her own hot beverage, I told her she was probably ready for a job at a major studio. Plus she can trim her own toenails which makes her over-qualified.

I give you, "Hot Cocoa."



And here's the small print that would normally roll by quickly along with the closing credits:

Aside from hot cocoa, the Bosch makes an excellent cup of coffee, and also has its own built-in water filter. I've picked up Tassimo pods at Target and online, but the milk pods are harder to find and are quite a bit more expensive than the coffee varieties. I would say the biggest drawback is the inability to use your own coffee -- some one-cup brewers come with small filter baskets that you can fill with your own grind and use in place of a pod. I really like that feature. Also, there's the environmental impact of disposing of a plastic pod with every cup of coffee -- developing a filter basket for the Bosch would at least alleviate part of this problem.

Like credit cards and black leggings, I say coffee makers are something you can never have enough of (I've got four on my counter right now.) And if you're looking to splurge on a new kitchen accessory, I think the Bosch would be a good choice. Besides, when was the last time a toaster inspired a movie?

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tags: bosch tassimo single serve coffee brewer | bosch | pod coffee makers

Oh look, more small print: I was not given any monetary compensation for writing about this product, nor was I required to write a review. I was given a Bosch Tassimo Coffee Brewer and three packages of coffee for the purposes of this review. No animals were harmed in the making of the movie or in the brewing of the hot cocoa, although the cat had to be put in a headlock a couple of times when he tried to lick the milk pod.

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I'd Like to Thank the Academy...But I'd Also Like To Thank These People

In addition to thanking the Academy, God, my agent and my lawyers, I would definitely have to thank the following people in my Oscar speech. Also, unlike Sandra Bullock when she won her award, I'm definitely thanking my husband.

Kodak
My once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Academy Awards would not be possible without Kodak and the wonderful people I've met who work there. You people would win the award for Most Fantastic Staff. Also, judging by the spirit you showed at the Awards I think you would be an awesome group to toss back a margarita with. Am I right?




Genlux magazine and Leona Edmiston

What can I say? They saved me from wearing my bathrobe to the biggest night in Hollywood so I thank them for that. If you get a chance you have to check out Leona's store on Montana Avenue -- her pieces are just so fantastic and made me feel beautiful and current. No small feat for someone who spends most of her days in six-year-old sweatpants.




Marygene and i Nuovi Cosmetics

Thanks to Marygene I had the best makeup job I think I've ever had. And that makeup miraculously managed to last through the searing mid-morning heat, a thunderstorm and into the night. She put these crazy individual lashes on me that made me look glamorous and best of all -- awake. Some sarcastic people would call her a Miracle Worker and they'd probably be right.




Kodak EasyShare Z950
Kodak sent me this camera to record the festivities with and I'm in love with it. Not only is it extremely easy to use, but the 10x optical zoom on it is amazing -- check out this picture of Mario Lopez. That's right -- you can see the gel in his hair:



iGo Phone Charger

I got this device at an event a few weeks ago and I got to put it to the test on Sunday. It was a lifesaver, especially since another device I purchased from the Apple Store failed miserably. The iGo gave me another full charge so I was able to take a picture of this beautiful sight at the end of the night.






My Husband
In addition to putting up with my neurotic frenzy as I prepared to go to the Oscars, my husband bought me a brand spankin' new iPhone 3Gs the day before the Awards since my ancient 2G was starting to act up. What a guy! He did mention some "additional favors" that would be required as partial payment but I have no idea what he's talking about.

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These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

What's better than raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens? How about a pair of sneakers that shape up your butt and a cupcake that tastes like a Cinnabon? These are just a couple of the cool products we got to check out at the fantastic LA/OC Moms Blog party thrown by the SV Moms Group a couple of weekends ago. Not only did we get to enjoy the beautiful surroundings at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, but we had great food, nice wine and the chance to meet reps from some first-rate companies and sample their wares. I love kittens but I'd take this event over their prickly whiskers any day.

So, without torturing you with any more Broadway show tune lyrics, here are a few of my favorite things.

Skechers Shape-Ups



Okay, I love these shoes. I have to admit they weren't on my list of things to buy, but when the nice reps from Skechers gave me a pair to try out I realized that maybe it really was time to throw out my twelve-year-old sneakers and slip into something new. And while I was a little skeptical of their claims that the shoes could tighten my butt and improve my posture, I have to say that after wearing the shoes everyday for the past week I'm beginning to think this is no ordinary pair of sneakers. I actually do feel like I stand up a little bit straighter when I have them on, and I can feel my leg muscles getting a bit of a workout. Plus, it's kind of nice to look down and not see shoes with holes and ketchup stains on them.


Cinnabon Cupcakes



How do you one-up a Cinnabon? Put it into a cupcake! Cinnabon is adding cupcakes to their menu, just to torture me that much more when I'm walking by their store at the mall, I presume. These cupcakes were delicious -- my favorite was the Cinnacake Classic, which tasted just like a Cinnabon, only cupcake-y. (<--- Hey look - I made up a new word.) I also love their retro packaging, which is going to make it even harder to resist at the mall. Damn you, Cinnabon!


Bosch/Tassimo Single-Cup Coffee Maker



This machine made me a perfect cup of coffee Starbucks coffee to go along with my cupcake. That was enough to make me fall in love, but the thing that impressed me the most was the fact that you could insert a little pod of milk, and the machine would steam it up perfectly for your cappuccino or latte. I have a one-cup coffee maker made by another company, but the thing's starting to buzz and hiss and it may just be time to move on to another machine, one that can put a little foam into my cup. I guess you could say I woke up and smelled the milk.


iGo



What is this handsome creature? I'll give you a hint -- it's coming with me to the Academy Awards on Sunday! No, it's not a device from the future that will make George Clooney notice me -- it's a combination cell phone charger and back-up battery from iGo. (Although I wish those scientists would hurry up with that Clooney device already.) All I have to do is charge the iGo for a couple of hours and then pop in my purse to use to charge up my iPhone when it runs out of power. I can spend less time worrying about my phone on the Red Carpet, and more time obsessing about my hair. Everybody wins!


Taga Bike



Okay, I admit I almost walked right by this one, because why would I need a bike with a baby carrier? I ain't birthing no more babies, I said under my breath. Although it must have come out louder than I thought because then the nice Taga man showed me his magic (no, not that, you dirty little minds) and turned the thing into a regular bike with a roomy basket in front, and then turned that into a shopping cart:


Schwing! I was mesmerized. Do you realize what this could mean? No more parking lot fights at the grocery store, and no more grabbing a cart only to find my hand stuck to the handle with some sort of mystery goo. Hey, and it might even come in handy if I have another baby. JUST KIDDING.

For more photos from the event and a great re-cap of all of the sponsors, check out this post on the LA Moms Blog.

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tags: la moms blog | bosch | igo | skechers shape ups | cinnabon cupcakes | taga bikes

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On The Rocks

I don't really consider myself a 'cultured' drinker. My favorite drink is the über-girly Cosmopolitan and I usually choose wine based on its nicely designed label rather than its woodsy undertones. So don't go trying to impress me with your 200-year-old Bordeaux because I'm more likely to go for that one over there, the one with the pretty curlicue font and the picture of a cat on the front.

But then my friend Julie invited me to a Macallan scotch tasting at the W Hotel, and I think I may have found a new drink. A very sophisticated, cultured drink, the drink of nobles and fancy people in nice clothes.

Hello scotch on the rocks, my new friend:



This one was served in a very nice glass over an ice ball. I felt cultured just holding the thing.

I learned that scotch is to be sipped slowly and enjoyed, rather than guzzled down in frantic gulps while you reach for fistfuls of fried zuchinni. I liked how it warmed me up and made me a brilliant conversationalist. Or so I thought -- I'm sure that person I was regaling with stories about my kids only walked away because she had to take an important call.

My dad was a scotch drinker, and I remember him having a drink after work every night. It was almost ceremonial the way he'd open his small liquor cabinet, retrieve a bottle of his favorite scotch and carefully pour it into his glass. I don't have a liquor cabinet, just a space next to the juice boxes in a cupboard above the microwave, but I think I'm going to buy myself a bottle of Macallan to put in there. I hope it doesn't mind sitting alongside those bottles with the drawings of cats on the labels.

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tags: macallan scotch whisky | w hotel

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I’ve Got a Bundt In The Oven

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Electrolux.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not going to ever win any baking contests. I consider myself a fairly accomplished cook — I can sauté and flambé my way through a dinner menu — but am flummoxed when it comes to desserts. I say if God intended people to bake He wouldn’t have invented frozen pound cake.

I have an especially contentious relationship with cake baking, but it’s not from a lack of trying. I remember the first cake that I truly aspired to make, a Martha Stewart fruit and cream concoction — two thin, fluffy white cakes layered with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries. Unfortunately my cakes were uneven and they crumbled before the first spoonful of whipped cream even touched them – I could almost see Martha coming at me with her antique rolling pin. That and the fact that I had no heirloom cake stand to put my cake on or New England cottage to photograph it in made the experience especially disappointing.

That was followed by years of failed cake making — cakes that rose unevenly or didn’t rise at all, cakes that stuck to the pan, cakes that broke apart and were passed on to unsuspecting guests as Mystery Trifle. And frosting them was the worst — if they did make it out of the pans alive I’d destroy them with my horrendous spatula skills. I once put an entire cake down the garbage disposal because it looked so horrible when I was done I didn’t want to insult the trashcan.

But then? I discovered this:



I had never considered baking a cake in a bundt pan for some reason. Bundt cakes weren’t real cakes because they weren’t layered and frosted. Bundt cakes were cheating, like using spaghetti sauce from a jar or only shaving your legs up to your calves (not that there’s anything wrong with either of those, especially if you’re pressed for time or wearing capris.) Bundt cakes were what old ladies brought to bake sales and were handed over with the words, “Aunt Helen gave me this recipe before she died. Now don’t forget to return my plate.”

But how wrong I was! I remember my first bundt cake, and how simple it was to use just one pan instead of two, and how easily it fell out of the pan with just a couple of knocks. And it looked so pretty, sitting on my platter like a beautiful flower. A beautiful flower that was in one piece and whose unveiling hadn’t been preceded by a string of curse words and the sound of cake pans slamming into the sink.



And with the hours I saved by not trying to frost it, I started to get creative. Most of the time it could be finished off with just a sprinkling of powdered sugar, but other times it deserved a little glaze or some chocolate chips sprinkled on top. I even got so giddy with my newfound cake expertise that I put candy corn and fake spiders on a Halloween bundt cake one year – although apparently the screams from a few of my daughter’s pre-school classmates were because of a fear of bugs and not for my baking prowess.

This is the only pan I use when I bake. It’s over ten years old and showing some wear and tear but it still turns out a perfect cake. My younger daughter loves to bake, and she’s been pressuring me to buy a new pan, one of those fancy ones shaped like a rose or a castle or a heart. I even saw one shaped like a football field, which to me seems totally wrong – isn’t that a little emasculatory? I say if you’re going to make your football field out of a bundt pan you may as well serve it with beer poured into an “I ♥ Oprah” mug.

Besides, I’m a little afraid that if I change pans my luck will change and I’ll go back to making those lopsided, unappetizing cakes of days past. So I’m going to keep on using my old trusty pan until I’m that old lady at the bake sale. Oh, and also? I hear Martha pays a fortune for these things at tag sales.

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Craving cake now? How about decorating a virtual one for a good cause? Electrolux is teaming up with Kelly Ripa to support the fight against ovarian cancer. Kelly, a mom and busy talk-show host, is also the head of her kids’ school bake sale committee and is combining her love of baking with a cause that’s close to her heart: the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF).

Just visit Kelly’s Cakery at www.Kelly-Confidential.com to decorate and send a special virtual cake to a friend, family member or loved one and for every cake sent, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF. That’s as easy as making a bundt cake.

And wait — here’s the icing on the cake (sorry, I couldn’t resist): To help spread the word, everyone who sends a virtual cake will be automatically entered for a chance to win something unbelievably awesome to do some real baking in: a stylish new Induction Range from Electrolux.

From what I hear, induction is the perfect way to melt chocolate and cook delicate foods and sauces. It’s more responsive than gas and best of all – it’s eco-friendly. To further support the cause, Electrolux is donating $100 to OCRF for every new range sold this month. So get baking!

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tags: electrolux | blogher reviews | kelly ripa electrolux | kelly's cakery

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Fresh & Easy Market: Be My Valentine

I've written here before about my deep, abiding love of Fresh & Easy Market, so when I received a big box of Valentine's gifts from them a couple of weeks ago it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like getting that special Valentine from the boy I had a crush on in 7th grade. Well, actually he didn't know I existed so instead of a Valentine I think I may have gotten a blank stare and a request to stop blocking his locker. So this was way, way better.

Here are the things I got in my special Valentine box, some awesome treats that you might want to get for your Valentine, or maybe just for yourself. I say give yourself a nice card, some expensive flowers and make a spread of Fresh & Easy delicacies, because then you don't have to share them with some stupid 7th grader that had zits and ended up in jail three times. Not that I hold a grudge.

Imported Gourmet Swiss Truffles



I'm not sure what's in these but I'm sure it's part of an evil plot to enlarge my butt. These little balls of nirvana were delicious and my daughters and I couldn't get enough. Yes, that box is empty and the only reason there was one left was because I had the last truffle in my desk, out of sight of my 13-year-old. You know something's good when you resort to hiding it from your kids. I usually only do that with my expensive vodka.

The coolest thing about these truffles is that as soon as you take a bite they split perfectly in half and it's like looking at a cross section of the earth. That creamy chocolate filling would be the molten core. See -- delicious and educational. These Fresh & Easy people are geniuses. By the way, that truffle in the photo is my last one and if this picture had sound you would hear me sobbing.




Fresh & Easy Snickerdoodles

Yes, this is just a stock photo off of the internet of a Snickerdoodle, because my husband and kids ATE ALL THE COOKIES before I could take a picture. I couldn't even find the package and I'm thinking they might have eaten that, too.

Obviously, they were very tasty.

Fresh & Easy Belgian Milk Chocolate With Pecans and Fruit



I'd never had a chocolate bar with fruit in it, but now I can add another thing to my list of things that I call out for in the middle of the night. Luckily they sent me a big bar -- 14 ounces! -- which should last me at least until the end of the week. I like to reward myself with a little square of this chocolaty goodness whenever I accomplish something big, like answering the phone on the second ring or getting out of bed.

Two Very Nice Wines (Under $10!): Montcadi Cava Rose and McGuigan Hand Made Barossa Shiraz



Who doesn't like wine? We do, and so do our friends so we shared the Montcadi sparkling rose the other night with our dinner guests -- it's a perfect party wine. In fact, it was so good it had us thinking, "Gee, we kind of wish we had kept that bottle all to ourselves," but hey -- that's what friends are for. We haven't gotten around to trying the McGuigan shiraz yet -- we're saving it for Valentine's Day. I regularly buy wine at Fresh & Easy and they have a large selection of varieties, most under $10. That leaves you more money to spend on other things, like granola and hummus (see my Fresh & Easy staples list here.)

So if you're having a Valentine dinner or just curling up on your couch with your Snuggie and the remote, you might want to think about picking up some of these treats to sweeten it up. Thanks to Fresh & Easy for being my Valentine!

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tags: fresh and easy supermarket | valentines day gifts | fresh & easy wine

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Pacific Waters Spa: Frankie Say Relax!

For you youngsters out there, the title of my post comes from the 80's band Frankie Goes To Hollywood. And it seemed appropriate given the fact that relax is all we were required to do when I and a bunch of other bloggers were invited out to a decadent day at the Pacific Waters Spa at the Huntington Hyatt. And it looks like my 80's reference is right-on seeing as our visit consisted of pampering and eating -- two things synonymous with that self-indulgent decade. Well, that and sex but there was none of that going on at this momblogger event. At least that I know of.

Before I get completely off-track and start quoting songs from all the other decades, let me tell you about my day. It started off with a great ride out to Huntington Beach with my good friends Amy and Bernadette. The whole way there we debated the underlying message of the movie Up In The Air, and by the time we got to the hotel I was fantasizing that George Clooney was going to be my masseuse or at least be walking around the spa in a robe. That wouldn't stay closed.

When we got to the spa there was no George, but we were impressed with the beautiful setting (take a virtual tour here.) After a quick orientation we were divided into groups that rotated to different parts of the spa each with its own pampering treatment. My group consisted of just two people -- me and Kim Tracey Prince, which was just fine with us, especially since we got first crack at the buffet table and we all know what kind of damage can be done by two mom bloggers left alone in a room full of food. Check out this spread -- I had to stop myself from stuffing the pockets of my robe with sandwiches:


We also got a 'cooking' lesson, where we learned to prepare some home spa treatments using all natural ingredients. Here's where we saw a demo of how to make a Mocha Latte Wrap for hands and feet using ground coffee, cocoa powder and coconut butter. Unfortunately being in this close proximity to coffee and not actually being able to drink it was somewhat tortuous for me -- I had to resist the urge to lick my hands and clean under my nails with my teeth.


The rest of the day was a hedonistic blur of massages, facials*, hand massages and sitting around in big fluffy robes lounging on luxurious chairs with snacks and tea at our disposal. Yes, I know it sounds horrible but we all suffered through it. I'm thinking of bringing my husband for his birthday in a few months -- they have great hotel/spa packages and special couples treatments as well. The spa itself is beautiful, and most important of all -- impeccably clean and organized. Also, it's located right across from the beach and they've done a lot to take advantage of the setting -- it's hard not to relax in these surroundings:


Also, while this was my first visit to the spa I've been to the Sunday brunch at the Huntington Hyatt numerous times and I highly recommend it. I'd say if you can follow the brunch with a spa visit you might just keel over and die from happiness.

Thanks to everyone at Pacific Waters Spa for a great day, and to Sarah Auerswald for bringing it all together.

(*I felt my facialist was a bit inexperienced and I can't wholeheartedly recommend this treatment from my encounter that day. However, it could have been due to the large number of people she had to work on in a short time.)

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tags: pacific waters spa | huntington hyatt | la mom bloggers

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The Lincoln MKT Got Me Props From The Guy In The Parking Lot And Could Get You Some Nifty Things, Too

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Lincoln.

I drive a five-year-old minivan and let’s face it — no one ever stops me to ask about my car. And even if they did, instead of telling them about my mpg or how it goes from zero to sixty in fifteen minutes, I’m more likely to show them the collection of petrified french fries and year-old juice boxes laying in the back seat. That’s when the person who had inquired about my car would say, “I only stopped you because you ran over my foot.”

But all that changed when I got a Lincoln MKT to test drive.

I got admiring stares from people at stop lights and a curious glance from a TV star who lives across the street. I even had a guy in the Starbucks parking lot ask me about the size of the engine, and while I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about I was able to impress him with the fact that my fancy car had a refrigerated compartment! Possibly for beer! He gave me a thumbs up, but I could tell it didn’t go over too well with his wife. Until I told her about the feature that parallel parks your car for you. Then her eyes went all dreamy and she fainted.

A little digression here to tell you a story. I’ve never had a desire to buy an SUV (note MKT is not an SUV) — I’m even sort of anti-SUV for their gas-guzzling properties But I’ve always said that one day, and my friends and family roll their eyes when I say this, I’m going to buy myself a huge, blinged-out Lincoln Navigator, probably the most SUV of all SUVs that should assault my sensibilities on every level but doesn’t. I can’t tell you exactly why, but something about it is appealing to me and I picture myself hauling down the street cheerily waving at strangers and frightening small animals.

That said, I had never had the same attraction to the Lincoln MKT; it didn’t seem like it would be practical for me, a mom with two kids, kids who hide food under the floor mats and always have friends who need rides.

So when BlogHer asked me to test-drive it for a week I wasn’t sure what to expect. But when it showed up in my driveway I have to say I almost put my Navigator dreams on hold (notice I said ‘almost.’) It has a powerful look and feel to it while not being overbearing, and their description of it as a ‘luxury crossover utility vehicle’ seems to be right-on; while it has many features that would make it a good fit for someone like me with a family, it’s got a much more sexy, luxurious feel to it. A baby stroller covered with rubies comes to mind. Maybe that’s the secret to the Lincoln brand — practical, yet sexy and powerful, something that would get someone like me to want a humongous Navigator. How do they do it? I’m thinking mind-altering lasers but I’m no scientist.

Here’s the rundown on what I liked and didn’t like. (Keep in mind that I’m not a car-person, so some of my terms may not be technically correct. For instance, I just recently learned that the ‘round controller thingy’ is actually called a steering wheel.)

Liked:

• Well lots, but first and foremost is the ride. Although to be fair I am driving a five-year-old minivan so perhaps I was just grateful not to feel like I was going to dislodge a kidney with every bump. But my husband was even impressed with the smooth, heavy ride (in the back seat as well) and he drives a luxury car that may or may not rhyme with ‘howdy.’

• Above-mentioned refrigerated compartment. I have nothing more to say about this other than, “Yippee.”

• I loved being able to start the engine with the push-button, keyless start -- the access key just needs to be somewhere in the car. (Also, the key can be programmed to limit the top speed of whoever is driving the car. Would come in handy when my oldest starts driving in three years -- wonder if that key can be programmed to taser creepy boyfriends.)

• The rear-view camera provides an amazingly clear, color view when the car is in reverse — I was surprised at what a wide area it covered, and how bright the picture was even on my street which is menacingly, horror-movie dark. My van alerts me with an audio tone, but I liked being able to see a clear view of what was behind me. A must for driving anywhere kids, bicycles, pets and zombies might be around.

• Active Park Assist. I have to admit I didn’t get to see all that this feature was capable of, but I like knowing it’s there. Great for someone like me who hates parallel parking unless there is half a city block in which to maneuver into.

• The MKT has a third row of seats, which is essential. Where else would I put my kids’ freeloading friends? On the roof? I also liked that these seats had easy access; the second-row seats folded forward effortlessly. I was in a car recently where it was so much trouble to get to the third row that we ended up just leaving the extra passengers behind. (Sorry, mom.)

Didn’t Like So Much:

• BLIS©(Blind Spot Information System) When changing lanes, these sensors alert you when another car is approaching on either side. I appreciate its function, but I found it distracting to look for the sensor light and didn’t like my attention being diverted from what was up ahead. Although, this may be one of those things that annoy you at first and then become indispensable once you get used to them, like underwire bras.

• The mount for the rear view mirror is huge. I’m sure there’s a reason for this, but I found it slightly obstructed my view and seemed unusually prominent. (Insert inappropriate joke here.)

• In the end, the thing I didn’t like most about the Lincoln MKT was that it wasn’t mine. I was sad to see it go (as were my husband and kids) and it was hard to get back into my minivan after all that pampered luxury. But those old french fries and juice boxes aren’t going to drive themselves around, so off I went.

And here are those nifty things I mentioned. I have a $500 Visa gift card to give away! Just answer the question, “What is your favorite technology feature in your car?” Leave your answer in the comments section before 11:59pm on Wednesday, February 24 and I'll use random.org to pick a winner.

Also, enter to win Lincoln’s Night on the Town Sweepstakes where you could win a night of pampering with the Lincoln MKT (valued at $1500.) You and a guest could win:

* A chance to drive a 2010 Lincoln MKT for the evening
* Local spa package for two
* Dinner for two at a local restaurant
* One night stay at a local hotel

Click here to check out what other bloggers had to say about the Lincoln MKT.

Please see the Official Rules here.

Entries for this giveaway are now closed.

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tags: 2010 lincoln mkt review | blogher reviews | lincoln night on the town sweepstakes | lincoln navigator

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